College football preview: Get this week's local flavor

Thursday

Aug 28, 2014 at 12:08 PM

Jacksonville State at Michigan StateKickoff >> 7:30 p.m. Friday on Big Ten NetworkNeed to know >> Jacksonville State went 11-4 last season, and for an FCS team, could be a good challenge for the Spartans for the first game of the season.Appalachian State at MichiganKickoff >> Noon Saturday on ESPN2Need to know >> Appalachian State beat the Wolverines in 2007 in one of the most massive upsets of the decade.Local flavor >> Michigan linebacker Desmond Morgan is a West Ottawa graduate.Rice at Notre DameKickoff >> 3:30 p.m. Saturday on NBCNeed to know >> Quarterback Everett Golson returns under center for the Fighting Irish. Rice was 10-4 last year.Local flavor >> Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly is a former Grand Valley State coach.Western Michigan at PurdueKickoff >> Noon Saturday on ESPNUNeed to know >> The Broncos finished last season 1-11 and are in full-on rebuilding mode.Local flavor >> Jordan VanDort (Zeeland West) is a freshman lineman for the Broncos.Chattanooga at Central MichiganKickoff >> 7 p.m. ThursdayNeed to know >> CMU finished 5-6 last season, Chattanooga was 8-4.Local flavor >> Central's Nathan Ricketts (Holland) is a linebacker and Corey Willis (Holland) is a receiver.Utah State at TennesseeKickoff >> 7 p.m. Sunday on SEC NetworkNeed to know >> Tennessee was one of three programs to start three quarterbacks last year amidst rebuilding years for the Volunteers. There’s a lot of youth on the team.Local flavor >> Tennessee coach Butch Jones is a Saugatuck native.